Healing?? or not???!!

The beautiful face of illness...no, really. He has a fever here, but manages to smile!

Bryce has been sleeping hard and long, trying to recover from his illness. Who knows what he had...ear infection, Upper Resp Infection, swine flu (??!!). Whatever, it is....not fun. He has been spiking fevers of 104.4!! Scary. Fevers typically don't scare me. I know fevers are actually a good thing that help fight infection, but when they get too high it can be BAD news. Luckily, he seems to be doing a little better today. No fever since midnight. Oh great, he just woke up about twenty minutes ago and I noticed a red splotchy rash on his head!!! and a little blister on his lip! GRRR. Good thing I cancelled his MD appt!

this rash looks worse in person. now, is it a fever rash? greater than 12 hours after a fever or a PCN reaction?! grrrr


even sick, I'm still a cutie. see my blister? ouch


Julia's poison ivy rash seems to be healing too. She has been a pretty good trooper this past week. Mostly, we have had to just hang around the house because Bryce has been sick and it has been rainy. She is a very good girl and hasn't been too much of a handful. Aside from trying to cut Bryce's bedding just now.



John said he has never been sick more frequently in his life. I guess two little kids will do that to you! We have our own little germ factories. Cute little vectors, aren't they?!
Vector :
2 a: an organism (as an insect) that transmits a pathogen b: pollinator a
3: an agent (as a plasmid or virus) that contains or carries modified genetic material (as recombinant DNA) and can be used to introduce exogenous genes into the genome of an organism

Fireproof YOUR Marriage

Well I've seen the movie twice now. I think it is GREAT! It is a pretty accurate description of many of the problems marriages face today. (two income families, money, intimacy, addictions) The only thing that would have made it more complicated and REAL is adding children. The first time I watched it was with friends. Then last night I watched it with John. I was so glad that he was perceptive to it. The book that I bought to go with the movie is call Love Dare by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. I for one, am excited to read it and possibly be enlightened about LOVE. In a world where marriage is not really valued, I am hoping to get anything out of this that would help my marriage grow stronger!

Sick baby boy

Bryce has his first Rt ear infection. =( We have all had a cold over the last week, but he spiked a fever early monday morning. We took him in to see the doctor and he was diagnosed with this ear infection. This is his first fever and first ear infection. Although, it is hard to see him sick I realize how very lucky we are to have two amazingly healthy children. I recognize the Lord's hand in this and for that I am eternally thankful. I am still up because I have been keeping a close eye on Bryce. His fever was 104! I am now going to go make sure it has come down.

Outdoors week

In the jogging stroller ready to go! Aren't they adorable! Finally, time to start shedding some more pounds and enjoying the warm weather. (I tend to hibernate in winter!)

Not the cutest picture, but telling none the less. The pink squirt bottle Julia has, is her new favorite "toy" she loves spraying everything and helping to water the new flowers in the flower bed...oh and also loves to spray me and Bryce. Bryce looks mad, I think it's because I wasn't letting him DIG like he really wanted to. I would have let him, but I know all he really wanted to do was eat the dirt!

It was a gorgeous week outside and we took full advantage of that. We jogged over to aunt Kim's twice. Julia enjoyed playing in the yard. A day or so later, John pointed out a rash that Julia had on her leg. My first thought was poison ivy, but couldn't think of where she would have gotten it, until aunt Kim told me today that her flower bed has beautiful vines of ivy!!! poison ivy?! It happens.
leaves of three, let it be! POISON IVY!
We are treating it with a little hydro cortisone and she's fine. Other outdoor activities we enjoyed this week were, weeding (well we never really enjoy this) and planting flowers. Last year, I discovered the flower vinca.
I think it is beautiful! oh and I just learned that it only dies back in the winter and then comes back, guess I shouldn't have ripped out the ones from last season, oh well. Maybe I'll try and let them die back and regrow next year.

They are great for a no shade yard and grew fabulously last year. I took a before picture last year, I wish I would have taken an after picture. We had gorgeous red, white and purple flowers for many months last summer.
We jumped on the trampoline (Julia loves to jump!).
SERIOUSLY? John let Julia outside to jump, we keep the door open and typically look out the window every thirty seconds to check on her. Guess a little time lapsed before we looked out and saw Julia with her Dora bike riding around the trampoline!

And very soon we WILL be getting a sandbox (Julia loves digging even more than jumping, as evidenced by the naked patches of dirt in my yard!). I keep promising Julia we will get a sandbox very soon. The problem is I take far too much time researching such insignificant facts, such as what would be the BEST and most Awesome and cost effective sand box. lol. We also had a picnic with aunt Kim.
Bryce-a-pooh, as Julia has so kindly nick-named him, has been as happy as ever. He is a cuddle monkey and a super sweetie.

Heartbreaking

I know that many of you have seen my button that says pray for Kayleigh Ann Freeman. This past week my heart has been heavy with sadness for this little girl and her family. I have been reading this blog since October or November of last year. For a while I just checked in on them occasionally, to make sure this little tiny baby was doing okay. Reading this family's blog that I just "happened" on has had a huge impact on me. A little tiny baby, born at 1 lb 1oz. (born just one week before Bryce was born, but far too early) Sent straight from heaven and thrust into this world far too early. Over the last few weeks I have become "attached" to this blog and I feel so attached to this family that I really only know by reading their blog. I didn't realize it was possible to feel love for someone that you just read about on a website. It is possible. I care a lot about this family and only want the best for them and their children. Day in and day out reading about this tiny little baby struggling to survive has made me think so deeply about so many things. I felt sadness when she wasn't doing well, happiness for the family and Kayleigh when she was doing well. I even wrote to them and offered frozen breast milk that I had stored for Bryce because I truly wanted this little baby to thrive and be able to go home (with her family). Sadly, this past week Kayleigh has made a severe turn for the worse. Things are bad and I don't think that it is repairable. Her family has an amazing love of God and has stayed strong in their faith throughout the entire struggle. I've cried tears of sadness and even woke up wishing that it was just a nightmare; that Kayleigh is not brain dead. At the same time I recognize the Lord has his hand in all things. He is all knowing and must have need for her precious soul back at home. (in heaven) Sometimes I think I'm a weirdo for getting so involved. However, this family's story has really touched me. I pray for them and continue to pray for them.

I'm so thankful for my family and all of our blessings. I find comfort in knowing that families will be together forever.

Kids Say the darndest things.

Honesty and Beauty in these EYES!


Julia was getting ready for bed tonight (about to read a story with daddy in her room) and I was putting Bryce to sleep in our room when Julia runs in crying "Daddy won't let me wash my hands in uncle Adam's sink! John says, "she really didn't need to wash her hands." I say, why do you need to wash your hands, sweetie?" Julia is crying and raising her voice, "Because they're FREAKING dirty." John and I just look at each other WIDE EYED and when she leaves to go back to her room (and is out of ear shot), we both bust out laughing. Oh she IS my daughter. oops.



Julia-isms

Julia: mommy can I have a bell cake?
Me: huh? a what?
Julia: You know a bell cake. As she points to the box of Ding Dongs in the pantry.
Me: Oh, a Ding Dong, haha. (julia is a SUGAR fanatic. she gets this from, her daddy, mommy and oh, nonny. yes nonny. look in nonny's freezer. ;)

Julia never ceases to amaze me with her intelligence. She has always know her WHOLE Family. One by one, individually, by name...and we have a BIG extended family. However, she continued to amaze me tonight as she further dissected the family tree. "pram paw is mommy's daddy. nonny is Kim's mommy. I added "nonny is also my mommy." Then I said Kim is my sister. Just like Bryce is your...." To which she replied baby brother." yup.

Today we were planting flowers and Julia was helping daddy. She told him, "first you dig a hole, then you shake the plant just a little, then you cover it with dirt." (almost verbatim what I explained to her!) oh yeah and we bought some miracle grow plant fertilizer and I said "eww it smells like pooh" and Julia said, "yeah it smells like COW poop!" yup. smart girl

Julia with her nena. not confusing at all to have a nonny and a nena. Not to JULIA!

Coasting

Everyone had a pretty laid back week this week, except John. Seems like everything he touches, or even looks at...breaks. As suspected, while on his off road adventure, a bushing on the Jeep was destroyed and needs to be replaced before the Jeep will be drivable again. NICE. Then just by chance while he was gone his PS3 decided to stop working. I only feel bad because I know these are his two greatest loves, after his family of course. Maybe. I think his list goes: 1)lifted AWESOME jeep Rubicon, 2)family, and 3)PS3, but you'll have to clarify with him. LOL. Oh and to top it all off, while we were all out jumping on the trampoline he broke his glasses. GREAT! As to why he was wearing them while jUmPiNg....I have no idea. Seriously. I told him to be extra careful around the children because we do not need either of them coming up broken! So sweet...look her hair style kind of matches that dolls. & don't go anywhere without blankie Kissable (9 months) We had another fun play date with Abby and Carter this week. Julia invited them over to jump on the new trampoline. They all seemed to have a great time. Bryce had his 9 month check up this past week. With in the last week and a half he has taken his first steps, with assist. He can walk a few steps with his little push toys. WOW. He weighed in at 21 lbs solid. Actually just barely above the 50%! I can't believe it. I thought he was big, but he is average. I guess it is the night and day comparison between he and Julia. Julia didn't even make it to 20 lbs by age one. I think she was only 18lbs. My arms certainly think he is BIG. He eats lots. He moves so FAST and often that he burns it off. Similar to Julia, except I don't think she eats anywhere near as much as Bryce can eat. Cuh-razy! Then after eating her three or four bites she immediately hops up from the dinner table because she has to go to the bathroom (I'm sure there is no more room left in her tummy). By the time she gets back to the table she is FULL?!?! Huh? Then she wants to go to the trampoline and bounce and bounce and burn off every single calorie we managed to squeeze into her. Grrr! Sweet girl. Bryce is actually around the 70% for height... 29 inches. Sweet.
catching a few zzzz's at the doctors office.

talking on cell phone to nonny. what was life like without cell phones?! julia will never know.

Obsession with Caillou, a little dancing, walking and talking!

Happy Easter 2009

Happy first Easter Bryce! "Can I really eat this candy?!" uh, no.

Julia loves when the Easter bunny comes. Never can have too much candy, right?!

The Easter Bunny was good to us.

What is that? You want me to touch it? It is seriously MOVING!

Bryce and Julia pet a REAL bunny! Sweet. "ok, ok, I'll pull its ears and stuff!"


Julia really enjoyed Easter this year. She was very excited about the Easter bunny and the cute baskets he left for her and Bryce, oh and mommy and daddy! After enjoying the baskets for a while we got ready for church. Then we all went to church. Well, me, Kim, Bryce and Julia. John was still in Oklahoma and Harry didn't feel well. After that, we rushed over to Nonny and Prampaws and ate a magnificent ham and every-veggie-imaginable (dipped in olive oil and then roasted) dinner. Yum. I say rushed because, unfortunately, I was in a hurry because I had to work tonight. Which is, of course, where I am now. (shh, don't tell)
It is nice to have John home. He was gone for 4 days and it wasn't too bad, my sister was with us a lot though. However, we did miss him lots!

No fair!

John is out of town, on an off road adventure...ugh. I guess if ihe is going to do it, which he is, I hope he is having fun or whatever. Oh and not breaking stuff! (which he probably is) To top it all off, I was spending time with the kids today and THIS happened. Sooooo, not fair!

Why couldn't he say mommy, first?! I know he doesn't know he said it, but it was plain as day. He did say "I love you to me," a few days ago. Again, I know he doesn't know he said it, but it still counts...haha.

Julia is so miss INDEPENDENT!



Last night she was drinking up the cold water coming out of the tap in the bath and I was thinking, man she is going to have to pee in the middle of the night. Luckily, for me, she has really been potty trained since about day one. lol. SO anyway, about 4:30am she is in my room saying "blankie!" SO I asked her if she needed to go potty and she says, "no, i already did, as she was climbing back into her bed. I'm thinking the worst and I say "where did you go potty?" and she says "I already went in the potty." Superstar! She woke up and went potty and never even woke me up, until she couldn't find her blankie! Then I helped her back into bed and she went right back to sleep. Wonderful! Unfortunately, I'm still waking up a LOT for BRYCE! Honestly, I try to enjoy it because I know he will only be little once! Oh and it is already starting. He wants to do everything she is doing!

I HEART the beach!

Daydreaming of here....


John and Julia Destin, Florida May 2007

Julia age 21 months

Julia and Mommy (may 2007)

I really want to go back this year. Hope it all works out!

Easter Traditions

Bryce about to grab the Easter egg dye! What a fun day. Bryce turned 9 months old yesterday! We also got to have a wonderful family dinner that included Adam, Kim and Harry, Nonny and Prampaw, and Nena! We missed our cousins Casey and Jenna this year, but hope to see them again soon. Milestones for Bryce: Climbing up the stairs like a pro. (with me close behind him), babbling, eating like champ, has four teeth, stands and attempts to walk a little bit with the walking toys and a little assistance.

Julia making an Easter egg wreath with aunt Kim. Kim is so good about helping Julia with all the holiday crafts!! Thank aunt Kim! We love you! Julia is 3 1/2 and soooo independent. Favorite activity the last few days is.....jumping on the trampoline!

I love family traditions! Especially holiday traditions. My family loves to dye Easter eggs. Everyone gets one dozen eggs and we boil them up, get a variety of fun dye kits and then color all the eggs! I highly recommend it. Very cheap and lots of fun.

Early Easter Suprise!

Today when Julia, Bryce, and I were in the yard jumping on the trampoline and picking weeds out of the yard we discovered a nest! Believe me I jumped back at first--thinking the worst. Then I realized it was just baby bunnies. Of course Julia wanted to see them. So we took caution and worse gloves. Then we looked a little closer. There were probably 5-6!
Bryce was enjoying jumping on the trampoline! Maybe.

Julia: "I want to pet the bunnies!"

The ole bunny hole. look close

Bryce with his first jeep Rubicon. making daddy proud. Also sporting his jeep sleeper. check out his left front chest....a jeep!